Are you shopping
for an engagement ring?
Learn everything you need to know before you buy!

Engagement
Ring
Diamond Clarity Guide

The clarity
grade of a diamond is determined by the number, and visibility, of
its natural inclusions. These inclusions can exist inside the diamond,
or on its surface, and may be present in various forms: pinpoints
(white dots), carbon (black dots), feathers, bubbles, crystals, cracks,
scratches and chips.

Diamonds
are graded under 10x magnification (a jeweler's loupe), and are classified
according to the following scale:

F

Flawless

IF

Internally
Flawless

VVS1-VVS2

Very
Very Slightly Included

VS1-VS2

Very
Slightly Included

SI1-SI2

Slightly
Included

I1-I2-I3

Included

Flawless
diamonds have no internal or external flaws, while Internally
Flawless diamonds have only slight external flaws. Both of these
types of diamonds are very rare and very expensive; they are
not typically found in engagement rings.

VVS1-VVS2
diamonds have inclusions that are very difficult to see
under 10x magnification by a gemologist. VS1-VS2 diamonds have
inclusions that are difficult to see under 10x magnification
by a gemologist. The untrained eye would not be able to tell
the difference between these grades; and you certainly could
not distinguish between them without magnification! Therefore,
VS stones are usually a better value for your money; they look
as beautiful as VVS stones, but are less expensive.

SI1-SI2
diamonds have inclusions that are easily detected under 10x magnification,
yet still invisible to the naked eye. These diamonds can be a good
choice if you are on a budget, and are willing to sacrifice a little
bit of quality for size. There is, of course, a range of SI stones.
Some strong SI1 stones are only a pinpoint or two away from being
VS stones, and only a trained expert can tell the difference. SI2
stones have more visible inclusions, but they are still "eye-clean."

I1-I2-I3
diamonds have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye. Unless
you are out to get the biggest diamond possible at a rock-bottom price,
it is best to steer clear of these stones. The flaws can be spotted
without a jeweler's loupe, and will also affect the brilliance and
general appearance of the stone.

So which
clarity grade should you choose? Most people in the engagement ring
market are not going to pay the super-high premiums for F and IF stones,
nor the high premiums for VVS stones. Yet, most would like to present
their beloved with something better than an I stone. That leaves the
VS and SI grades as the most popular, and most available, choices;
which one you choose will depend on personal preference and budget.

To put
it simply:
Buy a VS diamond if you'd like a very nice stone, with inclusions
that are difficult even for an expert to see under magnification
Buy an SI stone if you'd like a nice (SI1) to fair (SI2) stone, with
inclusions that can be seen easily under magnification but not to
the naked eye